Living in America 2012--Because It Is No Longer 2011

[MmeBucket]

This is what happens when I start threads--they get stupid titles. Someone else needs to start the next one. Hopefully we can get this one filled by 2013.

Link to old thread for reference

Not much happening here. The kids have been off school for 25 days. I am soooo looking forward to them starting school tomorrow. Except it is my day to help, so instead of getting a break from my two, I'll have 22 of them to deal with.

[Want2bSupermum]

Here is to hoping that you have had baby bc!

The good news is that I found out on Friday that I passed what is regarded as the hardest part of the CPA exams - Financial reporting. I failed the other part that I sat but I was 4 marks off the passing grade so I am taking it again in January.

The inlaws arrived last week and the cultural disconnect is rather strong. I struggle with their lack of time keeping (if we discuss the plan for the day and you nod your head I assume you have understood the next days plan and know you need to be at the door with your coat on for the time given) and they are struggling with my 'Americanisms' (pictures at target portrait studio on Saturday and then with Santa on Sunday).

Thank heavens my brother is here! He gets me and just follows the schedules I set each night for the next day.

[blackcurrants]

Oh well done you! Nope, still pg - pretty miserable tbh, but planning to.go.and see the hobbit today to cheer myself up! Inlaws sound frustrating, are they Brits? I hate lollygagging visitors!

[mummytime]

Hi,
I'm still in the UK and a lurker (reminds me of the great time I had living in Chicago a long while back now).

Anyhow, for those of you with kids at school, do they get ill at the end of term towards Christmas? Because in the UK, despite half-term my kids always get ill in the approach to Christmas; and are described by teachers as "very tired".
I'm just curious as to whether it is just a UK thing, and if so why? Or if its to do with winter? Or whatever?

[blackcurrants]

Mine aren't at school but DH is a teacher and gets knackered - not as much as he used to in the UK, however, as there's the Thanksgiving break about a month before they break up for Christmas. The Autumn term in the UK one is very long, it's one hell of a hike from the October half-term to the Christmas break-up, far longer than the spring/summer terms are. I think it does just tire them out, and I imagine the darkness, bugs going around with people being cooped up inside, and general over-hypedness of Christmas excitement probably makes them tireder!

[CaliforniaSucksSnowballs]

Yes, my 7 year old was sick two weeks ago and missed a while week of school, she missed a party and was vey upset.
Since she started school she has managed to get sick every year at the end of November beginning of December. Chicken pox x2, tonsillitis x2
So far she's good for Christmas. Just got to get through to last school day on Friday,

[Want2bSupermum]

The inlaws are Danish. They are much better than they used to be but they move very slowly. My MIL in particular is so concerned about doing everything properly - ie big cooked dinner every night. I don't know if she expects me to be cooking every night but I certainly don't have 2hrs to cook everyday. That is what the freezer is for.

I used to always get sick at the end of the fall term when I was at school. Actually I was perpetually ill from October through December.

[FlipFantasia]

Hi ladies

Just popping on to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a wonderful new year . Or happy holidays as I'm getting used to saying!

Blackcurrants I hope you're holding your beautiful new baby soon! I'll be lurking on the thread to see how you got on . Sending you vibes for a happy and unstressful Christmas in the meantime!

Want2 hope the inlaws don't drive you too dolally! I just bought some danish butter cookies yesterday for when we head to the in-laws on Christmas day (also bought some Cadbury fingers - I love our local Kings supermarket for stocking so many good brands!).

We're off to the inlaws on Christmas day and will probably spend most of the week down in southern NJ. I'm unbelievably excited about spending Christmas eve/morning in our own place - when in London we usually divided Christmas between either Ireland or NJ but I really want the children to have Christmas at home, as that's what me and DH grew up with. So it's best of both worlds - Santa presents just the 4 of us and then a big festive family meal

Oh and we're even planning to head to the panto in the new year - turns out a local am-dram group is putting on a pirate panto in early Jan - which makes me v happy! For anyone in NJ who fancies it it's called ARRR! A very British pantomime

[blackcurrants]

thank you Flip, I hope so too!
We're maybe having a bit of snow on Monday or Tuesday I think, but not a big fall. That's the only thing I'm worried about, getting to Morristown in a storm!
Happy happy Christmas to everyone - someone gave us a British Christmas pudding, so we are suddenly flush with fancy things!

[Want2bSupermum]

Happy Christmas everyone. Had an interesting Christmas. Inlaws were great but my DH was a PITA.

Flip Totally LOVE Kings for their international foods. They have Pataks curry sauce in there.

If anyone wants a Christmas pudding I have a spare one. It's a Fox's one that serves 4. My Dad brought it over last month. I totally lost it at the dinner table yesterday over the Christmas pudding. We won't be having another one anytime soon!

[blackcurrants]

hello all! Alex was born just before midnight on boxing day
quite dramatic as my waters went at 10pm, contractions started thick and fast, and we drove through that big rainstorm to drop DS1 with friends. . then our windscreen wipers stopped working! so our lovely friends drove us on to Morristown hospital where we arrived at 11.30pm and I gave birth 24 minutes later!
bit more drama than we were expecting but very straightforward- pants off, three pushes, hold baby!
He's 10lb 7oz and 22.5 inches long and chunky and smells incredible
Also every single aspect of the postnatal care at Morristown has really impressed me. Which is fab.

[Want2bSupermum]

Congrats Blackcurrants! Our friend who was due on Jan 5th also went into labour last night too but she took until this morning to deliver. I told DH that I bet a lot of babies are being born tonight because I felt the air pressure change when it started snowing.

Morristown is a fab hospital. Three pushes is very impressive! Enjoy Alex (love the name) and use the baby nursery so you can catch up on your sleep. I guess you will be back home tomorrow.

[SquinkiesRule]

Congratulations Blackcurrants, we have an Alex too, but he wasn't as easy a delivery as you had, what a big baby, Well done!

[Want2bSupermum]

blackcurrants Hope you made it home safely. Looks like NJ is going to be in for a snowy winter. Have mapped out routes for DH to take to St. B as they close the road through the reservation whenever it snows.

So, how do people without family close by do childbirth when they have an 18 month old? PIL told us Friday they most probably won't be able to make it in Feb for the birth of DS. Bit worried as I had a CS with DD and it was great having someone there in the room to help with BF, changing DD, getting me water etc rather than pressing the buzzer every two mins on the first day. If I go 'natural' I am not worried as I will be able to get up and do it myself.

[blackcurrants]

Happy New Year everyone! I've got my PJs on and aim to be asleep by 9pm ... rock and roll!
I've put a pic of DS2 (Alex) on my profile if anyone wants to admire the mahooousive cheeks. That's him at 3 days old, they've got even bigger in the last two! :)

We had friends take in DS1 overnight, and as it was such a quick labour DH then went back and picked him up, and took him home for a day-at-home-with-daddy culminating in a visit to see me before tea and bed at home. It was a bit odd not having DH there but to be honest, the hospital were SO amazing at nurses and techs helping me do everything that I didn't feel like I missed out not having him here. Of course, I had a straightforward vaginal delivery, I know a C section recovery is very, very different.

If you can't have someone else around for the childcare part, (and at 18 months it would have had to be DH for us, too - 30 months is a whole other ball game, DS was sad to leave our friends' house and their great toys to go home with DH!) what about having someone else to take care of YOU in the hospital? I can think of maybe one or two of my friends who I wouldn't mind seeing me in the post-birth state, and who would help me with that first day and be calm, supportive company - would that be an option? It is hard when you don't have the parents/siblings around who'd do it automatically, isn't it.

[SquinkiesRule]

We didn't have any family here for either baby being born, for Ds 2 Dh's friend took Ds1 home from the hospital while I was in labour and his wife watched him and brought him back after Ds2 was born and Dh went home with him and brought him back the next day. My friend came and got him and he played at hers all day with her Ds as Dh had to work, he got a day off both times to bring us home and I had two c-sections, no paid paternity leave. So I just muddled through. I had a friend come by one day she made sure I ate something and kept Ds1 busy with her Ds and by day 4 at home I drove the boys in the stick shift pick up back to town as Ds2 wasn't well. It was a bloody mess, I wish I'd had them both in UK.
I had to make do with asking the nurses for help in hospital, mostly I kept Ds on the bed between my legs on top of the covers so he wouldn't fall off and I dozed all day. Amazing how you just do it when you haven't anyone around.

[Want2bSupermum]

Happy New Year! blackcurrants Both are such cuties!

Thanks for the replies on how you guys managed it. Luckily DD is in daycare during the day Mon-Fri. I have two helpers who come in midweek evenings and on Saturdays that I can call and have followed up with them to see what their availability is.

DH has put a playpen in the back of the car with a toy bag. When I was pregnant with DD I woke up at 2am one night throwing up and we had to go to the hospital (little did we know it was preclampsia!). If that happens at least we can take DD with us and she can sleep in the playpen. She is totally in love with Elmo so I bought her two Elmo DVDs at Target that she can watch on the DVD player. DD has been away from me for a week before so I am sure she will survive.

Squinkies It is funny how you just make it happen. When I came home with DD my godmother was here but she was only able to stay a week. She left after I had been home for 2 or 3 days so DH put a dorm fridge in the bedroom and stocked it with juice, fruit chunks in tupperware boxes, sandwiches and after the fourth day home we had formula in there too. The paediatrician stopped by the house on their way to work because I couldn't drive and DH couldn't take the time off work. The week after he was able to take a couple days off and it was such a relief.

[Tarenath]

Happy new year everyone and congrats blackcurrants!

We've finally made it to NJ but no house yet sigh. Nothing happens over christmas and new year though (except babies!). Hotel is nice though and kids are enjoying free swimming and snow.

[yipee4weekstogo]

Happy new year to you all.
Haven't checked MN in a while and seems it's been a busy one for all.Christmas and new year were good for us,if a little busy travelling up and down the country.

congratulations blackcurrants, enjoy all the cuddles and time with Alex. Hope you are not too exhausted if that's possible with a new born.

Tarenath glad you have finally made it, good luck in finding a home.

Things are now manic our visa was approved today and it looks like we are flying in2-3 weeks.

[blackcurrants]

Welcome to NJ, Tarenath :)
Thanks for your kind words everyone - not TOO tired, though I could use more sleep, mainly I am basking in this stage, since I know I won't be doing it again, and it barely lasts a moment. DS1 goes to daycare, DS2 and I lie around all day gazing at each other. In a week or so I'll be bored, I'm sure, but right now I am enjoying it while it's enjoyable. I miss DS1 a lot, but we make sure to have special time together in the evenings, and it'll come into a new balance, whatever our new normal will be - soon enough, I'm sure.
Yipee how exciting! Good luck with the packing! :)

[Want2bSupermum]

blackcurrants Nothing in the world beats newborn snuggles!

Tarenath Welcome to the Garden State.

Yipee Enjoy the packing....

I am working crazy hours again. Had CPA exam and I will probably pop this baby out if I have passed. The questons were on oddball parts of contract law and tax code. So annoyed about it.

[yipee4weekstogo]

Hello all, how are you all?

Want2 how is bump? Are you still working? Have you had your exam results?

The removers are supposed to be coming tomorrow but he snow has not been cleared down our road...so we will see if they make it.

We fly on Friday. Are there any car seat shops that know what they are talking about. We ended up travelling an hour in the UK as motherboard were useless. Are there any makes that are better or any to avoid?

Can't wait to leave now, all this packing and organising is driving me crazy

[Want2bSupermum]

Hiya yipee - I don't get my results until sometime in Feb. It will be a miracle if I passed so I just put it out of my mind. I know I will need to sit it again in April/May.

For car seats I would recommend buybuybaby. There is one in Wayne, Bridgewater and Paramus (annoyingly this locations isn't open on Sundays). You can get 20% coupons which give you a discount for one item. Exclusions apply to the popular brands such as Britax, babyjogger, bugaboo. Most brands are covered though such as Graco, Maclaren etc. Everything is built to code. We have safety 1st for DD and for $60 it isn't a bad car seat. The other one is an evenflo which cost twice as much but has nice features such as machine washable cover and cup holders for her toys.

Oh and I am still pregnant - 37 weeks today. I think I scared my obn because she has scheduled me in for a CS at 41wks and said she wasn't going risk another induction. She said that the longer I am pregnant the higher the risk of developing preclampsia. She said she is hoping I go into labour before then but wanted to get me booked in now for a better timeslot.

[smartieknickers]

Hello all,
Just to let you know that I've started a new Living in America thread for 2013 so feel free to come on over...!

link to new thread